“For a long time I have hoped that one of these few would write us all a book about his own China, a real book, permeated with the essential spirit of the people. Time after time I have opened a book, eagerly and with hope, and time after time I have closed it again in disappointment, because it was too fervent in defense of that which was too great to need defense. It was written to impress the foreigner, and therefore it was unworthy of China.”
Nearly 80 years ago, the great American writer Pearl S. Buck encouraged her Chinese friend Lin Yutang to write a book explaining China to the West. When Lin finished his masterpiece My Country and My People, Pearl wrote the preface for his book, expressing her appreciation for Lin’s work and disappointment for many other Chinese writers — which can be seen from the paragraph quoted above.
Pearl’s criticism towards those incompetent Chinese writers is still valid today, though profound changes have taken place in China during the past decades. Writing about China is much more difficult now than it was in Lin’s time, though nowadays much more people — including Chinese and foreigners — are writing about this huge country.
Several years ago, I started to write a Chinese blog focusing on Chinese media and social issues. I have been trying to offer my independent opinion about my country. This continuous work got some attention, including Danwei’s recommendation for my blog to netizens wanting to learn about China.
Before this recommendation, several of my blog posts were introduced and translated by Danwei. Thanks to Danwei’s work, my voice has been heard by more netizens, especially Westerners. Gradually, I began to consider writing a blog in English. At the same time, the independent blogger Michael Anti encouraged me to write about China in a language which can be understood by the largest number of people in the world.
With the hope (and some ambition) of telling the ancient oriental nation in my eyes and in my thoughts as well as communicating with the world, I decided to start an English blog concerning on various aspects of China and Chinese people. Compared to native English bloggers writing about China, the advantage of me is that I myself am deeply rooted in this country.
As a Peking University (also known as Beida) graduate majoring in Journalism and Human Rights, I am chiefly interested in the topics of the functioning and changing of China’s political system, the role played by China’s media in the reform, and the development of civil society. However, topics on China’s economics, culture and other social issues will also be introduced and analyzed in this blog.
I graduated from Peking University this July and became a journalist working for Southern Weekly. The tagline of my newspaper is “to understand China”. As mentioned above, to understand this unique country is not an easy task, but I will try my best, for my newspaper, and also for my blog.
As you can see, I borrowed the title of Lin Yutang’s book for my blog. It’s a salute to Dr. Lin, and also a spur to me. In the blog description, I chose the phrases “changing China” and “awakening citizens”. I believe that China is in the transition to a modern democratic country and Chinese people are getting off their knees. As the Chinese saying goes, “while the prospects are bright, the road has twists and turns.” I am going to write about the prospects, and also, the twists and turns.
Undoubtedly, there will be many malapropisms, mistakes and misuses of words in my blog posts. If you happen to notice them, please do not hesitate to tell me. Of course, discussions on my blog posts are also welcomed. Thank you.
Congratulations!
Thanks!
Congratulations on the launch of your new blog!
I am a huge fan of yours. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for your support! I’ll try my best.
Great article but it didn’t have eevryhtnigI didn’t find the kitchen sink!
epp1Fn zhxoklnbxcbf
[...] his newly-launched English-language blog, Fang Kecheng describes how CCTV handled the Chang’e II space launch, [...]
This is fantastic news! I’ve been hoping someone like you would do something like this for a long time.
Good luck and I’ll be reading as much as I can.
Thank you!
[...] his newly-launched English-language blog, Fang Kecheng describes how CCTV handled the Chang’e II space launch, [...]
Congrats!
As a Chinese student who at present majoring in BA International Communications. I found your blogs（I also read a lot of posts from your Chinese blog) both inspiring and encouraging in a way I see, today’s China need most. And I
reeeelly appreciate those phrases you chose“changing China”“awakening citizens”, I do stand by your side in this faith of a more democratic, better China in which Chinese people “ are getting off their knees”.For I have seen many contemporary Chinese political bloggers who writes in sarcastic/indifferent/negative tongue and they are very welcomed by Chinese netizens which makes me wonder that the messages conveyed should be in the goal of people’s apathy/cool/spectatorship met or patriotism/ “Master Consciousness” :）/awakening of awareness aroused.However,modern is a rather neutral word to me(it can be seen from two sides: modernization imposed by and voluntary modernization by our Chinese people.) And they both have positive and negative effects.
This world is different from 80 years ago,the judgement: “It was written to impress the foreigner, and therefore it was unworthy of China.”may don’t make much of point anymore since under this globalisation, Earthinglys understand each other in a much better way and common/good values joined, this very idea of separate people by nationality/race/skin color/language used is just absurd(I think Pearl S. Buck said that to criticize some of those Orientalism in literature then).Anyway, what I mean is human beings are the same, no matter what,we all contribute our best sides to humanitarianism.Like Lin Yutang said “this indifference(of Chinese) is not a natural characteristic of the people, but is a conscious product of our culture.” And cultrue is the product of the way people think, so we can change it, we always can, if we really, really want and really, really try.
Thanks. I am impressed by your insightful thoughts in the comment. Hope to get more ideas from you.
hey,dude,you really need to work on your writing in this language.
I’d say, I totally agree with you on this voice-your-opinions-to-the-vast-majority thing, but,sometimes improper usage of the language may cause confusion and adversely twist your upright,ambitious thoughts.
the last thing we ever want is to be misinterpreted, right?
Thanks. I am aware of the importance of the proper usage of language. It’s very kind of you if you can point out any mistake or improper usage. I’ll be very happy to correct.
I come across to you blog, but I know you are doing the things that you like and meaningful.
this type of life maybe is full of pressure and sometimes even get you depressed and frustrated,but I still move on further and further.
this article reminds me there was a debate i believe two decades ago that was published in San Francisco Tribune if i remember correctly about the Chinese authors in the U.S. arguing what chinese do their books present – an immigrant’s ideal China or …from my experience, chinese authors outside of china more focus on chinese identity/culture from a perspective of a ‘chinese-foreigner’. i am also fan of those oversea chinese authors because i feel i found some kind of my identity from them. Unfortunately, i have not encounter a book written in chinese which tells the story of the chinese to its people.